The competition is especially tough this year for three-row crossover utility vehicles.
The Honda Pilot has transformed itself from a boxy, somewhat roughly finished family crossover to one that’s simply better detailed all around, with the best third-row seat in the class.
The Toyota Highlander is a close second, and offers 4-cylinder and hybrid models to boot.
The Hyundai Santa Fe is a somewhat more curvaceous alternative, with a pleasant ride and impressive feature set.
The Ford Explorer offers a turbo-4 and moderate off-road ability, though crash-test scores have a major flaw or two.
Finally, the Volvo XC90 is the pick of the crossover pack this year for those who want to splurge a little; like the CX-9, it’s a little sportier and has some grand aspirations.
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 2016 Mazda CX-9Browse Used Listings |  2017 Ford ExplorerBrowse Used Listings |  2017 Hyundai Santa FeBrowse Used Listings |  2016 Honda PilotBrowse Used Listings |  2016 Toyota HighlanderBrowse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | ||||
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The 2016 Mazda CX-9 has sharp handling and sleek looks, but falls a bit shy in features and third-row space. |
The 2017 Ford Explorer adds a sport appearance package and Sync 3, both of which are important to today's SUV buyers. |
The restyled 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport looks sharp, inside and out. We can't help but wonder what the model could do with a slightly improved powertrain lineup. |
The 2016 Honda Pilot has axed its hard edges: it's once again a smooth, capable family wagon, one that raises the bar for refinement. |
The 2016 Toyota Highlander isn't all that exciting to look at or to drive, but it's very versatile and handsome enough to be a great minivan alternative. |
| MSRP From | ||||
| $31,520 | $31,660 | $25,350 | $30,345 | $30,490 |
| Gas Mileage | ||||
| 21 MPG City / 28 MPG Hwy | 16 MPG City / 27 MPG Hwy | 17 MPG City / 28 MPG Hwy | 18 MPG City / 27 MPG Hwy | 18 MPG City / 28 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | ||||
| Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded V-6 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded V-6 | Regular Unleaded I-4 |
| EPA Class | ||||
| Small SUV 2WD | Standard SUV 2WD | Small SUV 2WD | Small SUV 2WD | Small SUV 2WD |
| Style Name | ||||
| FWD 4-Door Sport | Base FWD | 2.4L Automatic | 2WD 4-Door LX | FWD 4-Door I4 LE (GS) |
| Drivetrain | ||||
| Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | ||||
| 7 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Passenger Doors | ||||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | ||||
| Sport Utility | Sport Utility | Sport Utility | Sport Utility | Sport Utility |
| Transmission | ||||
| Automatic w/OD | Automatic w/OD | Automatic w/OD | Automatic w/OD | Automatic w/OD |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | ||||
| 2016 Mazda CX-9 vs. 2017 Ford Explorer | 2016 Mazda CX-9 vs. 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe | 2016 Mazda CX-9 vs. 2016 Honda Pilot | 2016 Mazda CX-9 vs. 2016 Toyota Highlander | |
